Why Cranes may be forced to play the remaining 2023 AFCON qualifiers in foreign land

With the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers set to resume in March, Uganda is at risk of playing the remaining home fixtures on a neutral ground.

Latest reports indicate that Mandela National Stadium, Nambolee, is still unfit to stage international matches per the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements.

The ban on the stadium was imposed on March 2021 after the CAF inspection team found that the pitch, toilets, pavilion, and dressing rooms were in terrible shape and recommended total renovation.

The renovations kicked off in January 2022, and a fortnight ago, the project engineers informed the public that the process would be complete by June this year.

Cranes used St Mary's Stadium Kitende for her 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches. But FUFA president Moses Magogo states both facilities have yet to be approved and have been forced to look for alternative venues outside the country.

"Namboole was classified by CAF as one of the stadiums not fit to host national team's class A matches. Ugshs 97bn was passed by the government, the facility is under renovation but not yet ready," FUFA president Moses Magogo said on Thursday in a series of Tweets.

"Unfortunately, all our immediate neighbors don't have stadiums that qualify. Tanzania has one, but we are playing against them in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, so we are looking at nations like Zambia, Malawi, and Egypt, among others."

Mandela National Stadium, Uganda (Flickr) Pulse Live Kenya

Magogo defended FUFA over blame from the public over the slow process of the facility and clarified that its the government's responsibility to build and renovate stadiums.

"I am the President of FUFA. We don't manage, we are just clients at Mandela National Stadium. We can only raise the noise like any other Ugandan, which we have done through parliament and that's how the resources have been availed," Magogo added.

Uganda Cranes are scheduled to host Tanzania on March 30 and Algeria on June 12 in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Cranes are currently seated at the bottom of Group F of the qualifiers with one point from two matches.